Vietnam team - Syria team: Ball control - attack or defense - counter-attack?

I thought "failure is the mother of success" but then...U22 Vietnamback to the "village pond" but the result as everyone knows, U22 Vietnam could not even surpass U22 Indonesia, not to mention U22 Thailand at that time was considered "unrivaled" in the region, ranked 3rd in Doha Cup while we ranked last.

Meanwhile, officially taking charge of the Vietnam National Team, the French coach chose to go the opposite way, opening the match against the weak team Hong Kong (China), then the equivalent team Syria, both in the top 100 of the FIFA rankings. Once again, the results showed that the new coach did not leave any significant mark in the match against Hong Kong (China) and now people are holding their breath waiting to see how the Vietnam National Team will "do" against the strong opponent?

Vietnam team lineup in friendly match with Hai Phong Club. Photo: Hai Hoang

Before the match against Syria, Mr. Troussier had "selected" his troops 3 times in a unique way. The first time, he called up both the Vietnam National Team and the Vietnam U22 Team, mixed them up for training and eliminated the first time mainly the injured players who could not/should not play. The second time, he divided the squad into 2 teams and still mixed the troops for both friendly matches and internal matches, eliminating some players (for reasons no one knew, such as Van Duc and Xuan Manh). The third time, he mixed the troops again for the final match against a strong opponent...

What many people do not understand is what Mr. Troussier is doing: in the international friendly match against Hong Kong (China), Van Thanh, Van Toan, Cong Phuong... sat out for a reason? Because they have not recovered physically, are injured, or are they saving their strength for the next match? Because they have to practice the rotation system to test the entire force before... disbanding, finding the initial answer to consider calling them up next time?

Lach Tray Stadium was filled with red in the friendly match between Vietnam national team and Hai Phong club. Photo: Hai Hoang

In the list of 30 players for the match against Syria, there are 4 goalkeepers, but can 2 of them enter the field if the Vietnam team encounters difficulties and loses? Except in cases of force majeure, Van Lam is the only one who has the opportunity to play 90 minutes, and it is very difficult for the second person to be tested due to the equal nature of the opponent and the match to see the "level" of the head coach after the instability of the teams? And if Mr. Troussier accepts the way U22 lost at the Doha Cup to imagine more about his student in the goal, it is a completely different story. At that time, the story will go further about a person who is willing to endure pressure, steadfast with the initial choice to reach the final destination. Then it is a story about the patience of the leaders of the Vietnam Football Federation, of experts and fans near and far...

If Mr. Troussier sent Hai Phong 4 young players from U22 Vietnam, the match in Nam Dinh had 7 names, including the reappearance of potential midfielders such as Thai Son, Duc Phu, still keeping the name Van Toan even though he did not play a single minute in the previous match and Van Tung who played 45 minutes without any significant impression. Strangely, Xuan Manh, who left an impression in the last 20 minutes, was removed from the midfield, even though when he was called up, he was named in the defense? The number 1 unsafe player in the previous match, Duy Manh (and not only in this match), was still kept in the defense, which also caused a lot of concern?

An attack by the Vietnamese team in a friendly match with Hai Phong Club. Photo: Hai Hoang

To see, Mr. Troussier is very independent in the way he views his students and makes "strange" decisions in the eyes of many people? During the 32nd SEA Games, it was thought that the teacher was hiding his cards in matches against weak opponents, but in fact, that was all, his cards were completely exposed, when in the end people realized that Van Khang, Van Truong... were still really green in front of their opponents. Now it seems that the process of selecting the force for the Vietnam National Team is still just the first step, it is not certain who will be selected, by default. The press and even the team members all talk about "learning from Mr. Hoang Duc" but then it is not certain that this talented midfielder will have a place if he is as pale and erratic as in the match against Hong Kong-China? People also talked about Quang Hai playing the full 90 minutes and it seems like the coach will rely on this trump card to build the team's playing style, but there is no guarantee if Quang Hai still passes the ball to...no one and the free kick that scored the goal every day now just...hits the fence or flies straight up into the sky?

There have been many signs of worry and concern about the new coach when U22 Vietnam and the Vietnam National Team started off unsteadily, with much more uncertainty than expected? Many questions will be answered after the match against Syria on June 20.

Will continue to maintain “ball control-attack” even though it is shaky or quickly return to the “defense-counterattack” martial art even though the coach is scolding but easy to play, easy to meet the immediate needs? A win or draw with equal or superior strength will temporarily satisfy all the current strict views. But if it is a soulless match, a close loss or a crushing defeat, it is very difficult to justify, even the coach’s seat may start to be deducted unwanted points, being/being considered even in the eyes of easy-going and sharing views./.